Flights to Halifax

From Stanfield into Halifax

The airport sits beside the highway north of the city, and the drive downtown takes 30 to 40 minutes. The MetroX 320 bus links the airport with downtown, and taxis and shared shuttles also run. A hire car is handy, as many of Nova Scotia's lighthouses, fishing villages and beaches are easiest to reach by road. Halifax is four hours behind the UK, the smallest time difference of any big Canadian city.

Harbourfront, Citadel Hill and Pier 21

The boardwalk along the waterfront runs past cafes, historic ships and seafood stalls. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic tells the story of the Titanic, whose victims were brought to Halifax, and of the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Above the city, the star-shaped Citadel fort fires its noon gun every day, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 recalls the ocean liners that once brought new arrivals. The harbour ferry to Dartmouth is an inexpensive way to see the skyline from the water.

Peggy's Cove, Lunenburg and the coast

Peggy's Cove, with its red-topped lighthouse on smooth granite rocks, is about 45 minutes from the city. Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage town of brightly painted wooden houses, is around an hour and a quarter away, and the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island makes a classic road trip of several days. Lobster rolls and fresh scallops are staples along the coast.

When to book

July to early October is the most popular time, with summer highs around 23°C and autumn colours in the valleys. Winters are snowy but mild by Canadian standards, around -4°C in January. Cruise ships call often in late summer and autumn, so book hotels early if your dates are fixed.

Want Halifax with Toronto or Montreal? Call 020 7871 4545 for a multi-city quote.